Esty Planning Transition To Congress

Her Focus Will Be On The Economy And Small Business

With the primary and a general election behind her, Elizabeth Esty says she will make economic issues, assisting small businesses and manufacturing her priorities as a new member of Congress.

Esty, 53, a Democrat from Cheshire, also said she will push to extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class – but not for millionaires.

Esty would also like to join the House Energy and Commerce Committee. However, she said she's already been warned that there might not be any open seats on that committee.

But before Esty can analyze legislation and cast votes, she must go to a lengthy orientation for new members of Congress and search for a Washington, D.C., apartment. She will also attend a training session at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

In addition, Esty must open offices in both Washington, D.C., and Connecticut and hire staff. There are also plans for more ordinary activities that have been neglected during the frantic campaign, such as heading to the gym and a weekend trip with her husband, state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Daniel Esty.

"There's not a lot of time," Esty said in an interview Thursday — two days after she beat Republican Andrew Roraback, of Goshen, in the general election.

Until late Tuesday night, Esty's rapid rise to Congress was never a certainty. She served just one term in the General Assembly before her defeat. And this year, she had to beat popular state House Speaker Chris Donovan in a primary and win on Election Day against Roraback, a long-time and well-known state lawmaker.

Donovan was considered the 5th Congressional District favorite until his campaign fell apart when the FBI launched an investigation into illegal campaign fundraising that led to 8 indictments. Two Donovan campaign staffers were arrested and two other men have already plead guilty in the case. Donovan has denied participation in or knowledge of a campaign finance conspiracy.

The Esty-Roraback general election campaign was heated and attracted support from groups across the country. Roraback criticized Esty for accepting money from individuals who work for businesses that her husband regulates. In the end, Esty won by more than 8,000 votes, dominating in Waterbury, New Britain and Danbury. Roraback won much of the rest of the 5th District's small towns.

Esty, who started out on the Cheshire town council, says she never aspired to be a congresswoman.

People would encourage her to run in the 5th District, but Esty said she had no interest in challenging fellow Democrat Chris Murphy.

"It really wasn't on my agenda," Esty said.

That changed in 2011 when U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman announced his retirement. Murphy said he was running for the open Senate seat and Esty changed her mind, drawing on her own wealth and contributions to finance her campaign.

Over the next two months, Esty said she will be preparing for her new job, and that includes finding a balance between work and family. Esty and her husband have three children. The youngest is a high school senior. To help with the transition from citizen to congresswoman, Esty says she's talked to Murphy about many things, including constituent relations, and she said she talked to Congressman John Larson recently about committee appointments.

Esty says it will be a priority to distinguish herself as a strong representative for her district. She sees herself as a "practical problem solver" who is fiscally responsible and able to work across party lines.

"At the end of the day, I will be judged for my advocacy and effectiveness," she said.